Sierra National Forest

BACKGROUND

Over the past few decades, the availability and capability of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) has increased tremendously.  On National Forest System lands, unmanaged OHV use has resulted in unplanned user created routes and trails.  In some cases, erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural resource sites has occurred.  In response to these users created routes, all national forests, nationwide, have been directed by the Secretary of Agriculture to designate a system of roads and trails for OHV use.  No longer will cross country use be permitted, OHV use will need to remain on a system of designated roads and trails.

In 2005, the Sierra National Forest completed an inventory of all roads and trails in the forest.  Over 500 miles of user created routes were identified in addition to the 1,600 miles of existing National Forest System roads and trails.  In response to this known information, the Forest Service proposed the following actions:

1. To the existing system of 1600 miles of National Forest System (NFS) motorized trails, add approximately 54 miles of existing user created routes.  Convert 72 miles of NFS roads to NFS trails. Manage 61 miles of NFS roads as NFS trails. Add 6 acres of motorized use area(s). 
2. To the existing system of roads and trails, change the allowable use or season of use on 970 miles of NFS roads. Close 200 miles of existing NFS roads to public access unless allowed by permit or other authorization. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
We need your input on any additional user created roads or trails that you would like to see included in the designated system.  We also need to know any dispersed camping or parking areas you use so that we may analyze the road or trail that provides access to it.  On the Sierra National Forest website are maps and information on the inventoried OHV road and trails including user create routes.  Please take the opportunity to review these maps and provide us input. 

We would appreciate receiving your comments by December 3, 2007.  Please send comments to   Sierra NF Travel Management Team, 1600 Tollhouse Rd, Clovis CA  93611.  You can also send your comments via email to sierra.route@fs.fed.us.   If you have questions please contact Gayne Sears at (559) 877-2218 ext. 3182.